Granted Patent B2

US 12,329,928 · App. 17/580,913 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Inventors: Steven Diianni (Danvers, MA); Ian McLaughlin (Groton, MA); Jason O'Connor (Acton, MA); Robert Campbell (Waltham, MA); Kevin Schmid (Boxford, MA)

Assignee: Insulet Corporation

A61M5/14566A61B5/14532A61B5/14865A61M5/14244A61M5/14248A61M5/1452A61M5/158A61M5/1723B65D83/761F04B9/02A61M2005/1403A61M2005/14252A61M2005/14506A61M5/3291A61M2230/201F04C2270/041

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A drive mechanism for a fluid delivery device, comprising:

a plunger disposed within a reservoir;

a leadscrew extending from the plunger;

a nut threadably engaged with the leadscrew;

a drive wheel; and

a clutch mechanism coupled to the drive wheel, wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to allow the nut to pass through the clutch mechanism when disengaged and is configured to grip the nut when engaged such that the drive wheel rotates the nut to advance the leadscrew and the plunger into the reservoir.

2. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the nut is a tube nut.

3. The drive mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the clutch mechanism includes a clutch spring that grips the tube nut when the clutch spring is released.

4. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the clutch mechanism further includes a spring latch and a clutch spring, and the spring latch is operable to hold the clutch spring in a disengaged position and to release the clutch spring such that the clutch spring moves to an engaged position.

5. The drive mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the spring latch is configured to release the clutch spring in response to movement of the drive wheel.

6. A drive mechanism for a fluid delivery device, comprising:

an elongated assembly including a first elongated member and a second elongated member, wherein the first elongated member is configured to extend from a plunger within a reservoir and the second elongated member is coupled to the first elongated member;

a drive wheel; and

a clutch mechanism coupled to the drive wheel, wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to allow the second elongated member to pass through the clutch mechanism when disengaged and is configured to grip the second elongated member when engaged such that the drive wheel rotates the second elongated member to advance the first elongated member and the plunger into the reservoir.

7. The drive mechanism of claim 6 , wherein:

the first elongated member comprises a first threaded member;

the second elongated member comprises a second threaded member; and

the second threaded member is in threaded engagement with the first threaded member.

8. The drive mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the first threaded member comprises a first threaded shaft having external threads.

9. The drive mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the second elongated member comprises a second threaded shaft having internal threads.

10. The drive mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the clutch mechanism includes a clutch spring that grips the second elongated member when released.

11. The drive mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the clutch mechanism further includes a spring latch configured to hold the clutch spring in a disengaged position and configured to release the clutch spring such that the clutch spring moves to an engaged position.

12. The drive mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the spring latch is configured to release the clutch spring in response to movement of the drive wheel.

13. A fluid delivery device, comprising:

a fluid reservoir;

a transcutaneous access tool fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir; and

a drive mechanism including an elongated assembly coupled to a plunger disposed in the fluid reservoir and a clutch mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism is operable to:

hold the clutch mechanism in a disengaged position;

as the fluid reservoir is filled with fluid, enable a portion of the elongated assembly to pass through the clutch mechanism such that the plunger is retracted within the fluid reservoir; and

engage the clutch mechanism to hold the portion of the elongated assembly that has passed through the clutch mechanism.

14. The fluid delivery device of claim 13 , wherein the drive mechanism is further operable to:

hold the clutch mechanism in the disengaged position while the fluid reservoir is filling with fluid.

15. The fluid delivery device of claim 13 , wherein the clutch mechanism comprises a clutch spring operable to hold the portion of the portion of the elongated assembly that passes through the clutch spring of the clutch mechanism.

16. The fluid delivery device of claim 15 , wherein the clutch mechanism further comprises a spring latch; and the spring latch is operable to:

hold the clutch mechanism in a disengaged position.

17. The fluid delivery device of claim 16 , wherein the drive mechanism, when engaging the clutch spring, is further operable to:

release the clutch spring from the spring latch.

18. The fluid delivery device of claim 13 , wherein the elongated assembly comprises:

a first elongated member including a first threaded member; and

a second elongated member includes a second threaded member, wherein the second threaded member is in threaded engagement with the first threaded member; and the clutch mechanism is configured to allow the second threaded member to pass through when disengaged and is configured to grip the second threaded member when engaged, wherein the second threaded member is the portion of the elongated assembly.

19. The fluid delivery device of claim 18 , wherein drive mechanism is further operable to:

rotate the second threaded member by rotating a drive wheel with the clutch mechanism engaged whereby the first threaded member and the plunger are advanced into the reservoir.

20. The fluid delivery device of claim 18 , wherein the clutch mechanism comprises a clutch spring, and the clutch mechanism, when engaged, is operable to:

grip the second elongated member with the clutch spring.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (400)